President George Bush vowed to make Charleston's port "safe and secure" but spent more time here Thursday defending his decision to attack Iraq.
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ALAN HAWES/STAFF
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President Bush walks along Charleston Harbor as he arrives Thursday for a speech on security, the war on terror and Iraq.
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With a Coast Guard cutter strategically positioned as a backdrop, Bush devoted only a few sentences to increased port security measures -- the stated reason for his visit -- in his 40-minute speech at the Union Pier Terminal.
He spent most of his time defending the war on terrorism and his decision to invade Iraq and oust President Saddam Hussein, calling the deposed leader's government "one of the most brutal, corrupt and dangerous regimes in the world."
"Knowing what I knew then, and knowing what I know today, America did the right thing in Iraq," Bush told more than 2,000 people gathered along the Charleston waterfront.
U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., author of the Maritime Transportation Security Act, did not attend Bush's address, but Hollings later issued a statement calling Bush's appearance a "photo-op."
"This president and this Congress have not taken this (port security) issue seriously enough," Hollings said. "The vulnerability is real, the threat is real, and damage could be crippling. The consequences of photo-op politics without a substantive commitment to address our port security shortcomings is not only misleading, it could be catastrophic." Hollings has been a long-time advocate of increased funding for port security.
The president's visit came on the same day CIA Director George Tenet delivered a speech in Washington aimed at preventing the CIA from becoming a scapegoat amid questions from critics about the credibility of intelligence services.
Tenet said U.S. analysts never claimed before the war that Iraq was an imminent threat, and that analysts held varying opinions about whether Iraq possessed chemical, biological and nuclear weapons before the war.
Bush's speech touched on many of his campaign themes, including getting Congress to make his tax cuts permanent and his handling of the war -- two areas that the seven Democratic presidential candidates often criticized while stumping in South Carolina last week.
Democrats have also bashed Bush for visiting South Carolina two days after the primary. He did the same thing in New Hampshire two days after its primary.
The White House said Bush came to Charleston to promote his homeland security budget addressed in his State of the Union speech. Bush wants a 13 percent increase in port security spending over last year, which would boost the Department of Homeland Security's port-related budget to about $1.9 billion. The money would go toward funding technology programs, port defense and efforts to screen dangerous cargo from arriving here from overseas ports.
Bush waved to the crowd, gave a thumbs up and fought a harsh wind off the Cooper River while Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge stood nearby. Most of those assembled included members of the Armed Forces and homeland security workers.
"This is one of the busiest container ports in our country. It's an important hub of commerce," Bush said about Charleston.
"We will make sure that, not only is the port strong for economic reasons, we will make sure that the port defends the people (and) is ready to defend against the threats of a new era, that this port is secure and safe for not only the people of South Carolina but for the people of the United States of America," he added.
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GRACE BEAHM/STAFF
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Bush greets supporters after speaking Thursday at Union Pier.
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Bush addressed the still lingering questions about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, conceding, "we have not yet found the stockpiles of weapons that we thought were there."
But he drew widespread applause from the crowd by saying Saddam was openly dangerous, a threat and needed to be removed from power.
"For years, he threatened and he invaded his neighbors," Bush said. "For years, he murdered innocent Iraqis by the hundreds of thousands. For years, he made a mockery of United Nations' demands that he account for his weapons. For years, Saddam Hussein did all these things. But he won't be doing any of them this year. Instead, he's sitting in a prison cell. And he will be sitting in a courtroom to answer for his crimes."
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Reliance, home-ported in Portsmouth, N.H., was parked behind Bush to support his security message. The White House directed the ship's captain to reposition slightly just before the president spoke. A Coast Guard spokesman said the ship was assigned as part of the security detail, but declined an explanation of why a Charleston-based cutter was not used.
Elected Republicans at the speech read Bush's comments in different ways. North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said the visit had all the appearances of a political stop.
"I thought it was going to be more directed (at the port)," he said, adding he didn't mind how Bush delivered his message as long as the federal dollars for security keep flowing.
Gov. Mark Sanford said the symbolism of using the Charleston port was a way of highlighting the security concerns of all port activities and illustrating the vital link between open and free passage on the seas and security.
"If you don't have the trade part right, then ultimately, you'll have an economy that underperforms," Sanford said. "I think he hit that part."
Charleston's 1st District Republican U.S. Rep. Henry Brown said the visit was an opportunity to showcase Charleston, adding that he spent time on Air Force One talking with Ridge about port security and boosting the Border Patrol school here. The school at the former Charleston Naval Base trains police to guard America's borders.
Brown said "a lot of negative spin" came out of the Democratic primary but added, "I don't care what the reasons were or what the interpretation was (for the Bush visit). It was good for South Carolina, it was good for our port."
All five Republicans on the state's congressional delegation -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, Reps. Gresham Barrett, Jim DeMint, Joe Wilson, and Brown -- flew from Washington on Air Force One with Bush. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., did not attend, citing a scheduling conflict.
Many of those interviewed after the speech ended said seeing the president in person made dealing with the bitter wind and cold worthwhile.
Josh Laughman, a student at one of the Naval Weapons Station nuclear power training schools, said Bush's opening comments pushing for job growth and stimulating the economy through tax breaks made it obvious he was out stumping on the campaign trail.
"He is out doing his thing now," said Laughman. "It was pretty much everything I expected it to be."
Laughman's classmate at the Naval weapons station, Jeff Goldy, was more enthusiastic. Goldy said Bush's talk about the goals and successes involved in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq reinforced Goldy's belief in the work he does each day.
"It got me more motivated," said Goldy, who grew up in Charleston. "He made me glad about my decision to join the Navy."
Bush was in Charleston for about 90 minutes, arriving at Charleston Air Force Base. He was greeted on the tarmac by dignitaries, including Sanford and Charles Hall, 64, a retired Army sergeant and the occasion's official greeter for Charleston County.
County spokeswoman Jamie Thomas said Hall was picked because of his outstanding record as a volunteer with the Charleston County Citizen Corps.
As Bush left, he passed up lunch on Air Force One and dropped by Sticky Fingers on Meeting Street instead.
"He got three barbecued pork sandwiches and some ribs," said an obviously pleased Matt Lowe, the restaurant's owner and manager.
Members of the news media accompanying Bush were chased out of the restaurant almost as soon as they arrived, Lowe said, but a White House photographer snapped a group shot of Bush with the Sticky Fingers staff.
"He was carrying a 'to-go' bag," he said.
